SAN DIEGO: HITTING: This was by far the worst lineup in the National League in runs (3.66 per game), HR (91), and OPS (.653). 1B JESUS GUZMAN had 44 RBI in just 247 at-bats thanks to a 1.094 OPS with RISP. 1B YONDER ALONSO, the key piece of the Mat Latos trade, will play first every day, moving Guzman to a back-up role. OF CAMERON MAYBIN used his speed to steal 40 bases and score 82 runs. OF CARLOS QUENTIN was acquired from the White Sox and will provide much-needed power in the middle of the batting order when he returns to the field sometime in late April/early May after having knee surgery. Slugger KYLE BLANKS will fill the void. In 420 career at-bats, he has 20 homers, but also has a .219 BA and 152 strikeouts. SS JASON BARTLETT had a disappointing first season in San Diego, hitting only two home runs in 554 at-bats and posting a pathetic .615 OPS as the team's No. 2 hitter in the lineup. Mediocre OF WILL VENABLE (.705 OPS) would not start for any other team in the majors. 3B CHASE HEADLEY batted .289 with a .374 OBP, but failed to provide any power from the three-hole. Oft-injured C NICK HUNDLEY had an .824 OPS and 9 HR in half a season. SS ORLANDO HUDSON batted just .246 with 92 strikeouts and just 31 walks. STARTING PITCHING: This young staff finished sixth in the majors with a 3.62 ERA. TIM STAUFFER struggled to pitch outside of spacious Petco Park, posting a 4.95 ERA and 1.39 WHIP on the road (2.57 ERA, 1.13 WHIP at home). Two starters both underwent surgery on their throwing shoulders last summer, but are expected to be ready for the start of the season. Lefty CLAYTON RICHARD had just 53 K and 38 BB in 99.2 innings, but he posted a strong 2.30 ERA and 1.11 WHIP at home last year. The 2011 campaign was the year to judge whether EDINSON VOLQUEZ was all the way back from major arm surgery. Well, the jury's in and the verdict isn't kind. The move to San Diego can only cure so much. Right-hander DUSTIN MOSELEY enjoyed his first season in the NL, posting career-best marks in ERA (3.30) and WHIP (1.28). But like Richard, his 64 K and 36 BB in 120 innings were unimpressive. CORY LUEBKE began 2011 in the bullpen, but was moved the rotation, which is where he'll stay in 2012. In 17 starts last year, he shined with a 3.31 ERA and 111 K in 100.2 IP. RELIEF PITCHING: For the first time since 2008, somebody other than Heath Bell will close games for the Padres. HUSTON STREET will certainly benefit from the move to hitter haven Coors Field to pitcher-friendly Petco Park. Street had a 4.20 home ERA in three seasons in Colorado, while posting a stellar 2.59 ERA on the road. If Street gets hurt, the two leading candidates for the closer role are LUKE GREGERSON and ERNESTO FRIERI. Gregerson is the more consistent pitcher of the two, but Frieri throws harder than Gregerson and has a stellar 11.1 strikeout rate in his three-year career.

PITTSBURGH: HITTING: The Pirates' two-month casual flirtation with competitiveness was cute while it lasted, before this team fizzled to a 72-win season. This team is still years away. But don't blame OF ANDREW McCUTCHEN, who might be the best all-around player in the division. Of all the ballyhooed outfielders from the 2005 draft, he's the one GMs would most want to build around. OF JOSE TABATA, not so much. He's serviceable and has plus speed, but the six-year extension the Pirates gave him was absurd. 2B NEIL WALKER has settled into a respectable place short of stardom. 3B PEDRO ALVAREZ has a lot of uphill climbing to do if he wants to wake up old expectations. He'll compete with 3B CASEY MCGEHEE for a starting role, but it's most likely that Alvarez moves to first base to back up 1B GARRETT JONES. OFs NATE McLOUTH and ALEX PRESLEY are underwhelming choices for the starting left-field spot. SS CLINT BARMES and C ROD BARAJAS would like to thank the Pirates for wildly overpaying them. STARTING PITCHING: JEFF KARSTENS looked pretty decent for much of last year. But that's what happens when you get to log 14 percent of your innings against the lowly Astros. Better teams exposed him for the replacement-level guy he is. Contrary to what a lot of bored, lazy sportswriters wanted you to believe last year, CHARLIE MORTON doesn't pitch like Roy Halladay. At all. JAMES McDONALD could still be special if he cut down his walk rate. ERIK BEDARD was a respectable signing. Even if his shoulder acts up, he cost only $4.5 million for a year. If he's healthy, he's still well above-average. KEVIN CORREIA may only be slightly more effective at striking out hitters than a batting tee, but the Pirates are grateful for the innings he eats. BRAD LINCOLN is the designated fill-in if any of the other starters get hurt (cough, Bedard). In the meantime, he's a swing man. RELIEF PITCHING: Closer JOEL HANRAHAN has been outstanding since first donning a Pirates uniform in 2009, converting 40-of-44 saves with a 1.83 ERA last season. It makes sense for the rebuilding Pirates to move him, but they'll probably keep the hand they were dealt. There isn't another qualified ninth-inning pitcher in this bullpen though. EVAN MEEK was bit by the shoulder bug. His early season was an unqualified disaster, but he turned it around and regained his form once he came back in September. He should be fully healthy again, and a quiet source of a few saves. CHRIS RESOP is another primary set-up man, but he posted a 4.39 ERA and 1.48 WHIP in 2011. DANIEL McCUTCHEN won't be so lucky with his ERA this year if he doesn't lower his walk rate. He's just not a guy to put much faith in.

With A.J. Burnett back on the mound at PNC Park, the Pittsburgh Pirates hope to continue taking advantage of an eight-game home stretch against a pair of losing clubs.

The Pirates look for their sixth straight win in Burnett's home starts Monday night when they try to beat the San Diego Padres for just the fourth time in 20 meetings there.

After taking three of four against the last-place Cubs by winning 3-2 on Sunday, Pittsburgh (87-62) aims to stay on top in the NL Central by winning the opener of this four-game set with the Padres (68-80). The Pirates remained in a tie for first place following St. Louis' win over Seattle.

Pinch-hitter Justin Morneau, acquired from Minnesota on Aug. 31, singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning for his first RBI with the Pirates.

"I wish it would have happened a week-and-a-half ago, but I'm glad it happened when it did," said Morneau, who is batting .279 (12 for 43) with Pittsburgh. "It's just nice to contribute."

Now they'll go for their seventh win in eight games by giving the ball to Burnett (8-10, 3.45 ERA), who should feel confident about bouncing back from a couple of rough outings.

Although he allowed 10 runs and 12 hits over 9 1-3 innings in his last two road starts, the right-hander has gone 2-0 with a 1.94 ERA in his last six outings at home.

Burnett struck out seven while allowing one run and four hits over seven innings in an 8-1 win in San Diego on Aug. 20. The Pirates held the Padres to four runs while winning two of three in that series.

Jedd Gyorko homered off Burnett to account for the Padres' lone tally in their meeting, though that's his only hit in 12 at-bats against Pittsburgh.

Teammate Chase Headley looks to extend his homer streak to four consecutive games, and he has four home runs in his last five at PNC Park while driving in 15 runs.

The Padres hope to continue their dominance in Pittsburgh, having won 16 of 19 there since the 2007 season. They'll also try to build on Sunday's 4-0 victory that gave them a series win at NL East-leading Atlanta.

Andrew Cashner (9-8, 3.40) hasn't given up more than three earned runs in his last 10 starts, going 4-4 with a 2.78 ERA. That includes a 3-1 loss to the Pirates on Aug. 19 when he allowed three runs - one earned - and five hits over seven innings.

"I feel stronger than I was at the beginning of the year," Cashner said. "In the beginning of the year, I was coming off thumb surgery. I felt like I was just trying to stay healthy. But I felt like once the All-Star break hit, it was lay it all down on the line and let's go."

NL home run leader Pedro Alvarez went 2 for 3 with a homer off Cashner in last month's meeting, but he's 4 for 34 with one home run in his last nine home games.

All-Star Andrew McCutchen is batting .333 during a seven-game hitting streak against the Padres. He's also batting a major league-best .401 in his last 40 games overall.